The Crown Ranch 2: Missing Out on Life
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Valerie J. Clarizio
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Meredith's life is on the brink of a major change as she anticipates a promotion to CEO. But when her sister Anne is brutally murdered, Meredith must step in to care for her two young nieces, Iris and Frannie. As she juggles her high-stakes career and newfound responsibilities, Meredith uncovers dark secrets and faces unexpected challenges. With the help of Coach, a man from her past, she navigates a treacherous path of family, love, and danger, all while trying to protect her nieces from a lurking threat.
Chapter One
Book 2: Missing Out on Life
Meredith leaned back in her deluxe leather chair, staring at the city of Louisville from the windows of her fourteenth-floor office. A satisfied smile tugged at her lips. Soon, she’d be viewing this great city from the corner office.
Ten minutes ago, Kenneth, her boss, announced his retirement. He’d been grooming her to take over for the past several years. They had an unspoken and unwritten understanding. She’d soon be the CEO of Banner Development, the position she’d set her eye on the second she walked through the door six years ago. She’d given her life to this company, and it was about to pay off.
During Kenneth’s announcement, he’d mentioned the board would name the new CEO within the month. About half the worker bee gazes flew to her, but the other half landed on her nemesis, Sawyer Donovan. Poor Sawyer. He probably didn’t realize the wait to announce the new CEO was just a formality.
Meredith’s confidence was reaffirmed by some of the looks she’d received from the staff, but admittedly, disapproving looks came from some employees as well. She shrugged. Sawyer’s team. It was no secret her quick climb up the corporate ladder had pissed off a few people along the way, but that was the cost of success.
Adrenaline rushed through her veins. By the end of the month, she’d be running this company. She needed to celebrate, but how? She could call her sister, Anne, her one true friend in this world, but Anne likely wouldn’t be able to find time to drive the thirty miles to Louisville from Bourbonville. Between her two kids and loser husband, poor Anne never got to do anything. Meredith sure as hell wasn’t going to drive to her hometown of Bourbonville—the place she hated most in this world and vowed she’d never return since the day she left. Nope, not returning. She hadn’t even returned for her sister’s wedding to that piece of crap husband of hers or for her good-for-nothing parents’ funerals. So, she could hardly return to celebrate her soon-to-be job promotion. It wouldn’t be right.
Meredith drummed her fingers on her desk. I’ll text Jameson. He’ll celebrate with me. A celebratory romp was just what she needed. Who would argue with that?
Jameson, are you free tonight? I could use your company. 9:00, my place?
Jameson’s reply was instantaneous. 9:00? You can’t at least buy me dinner before you use me? LOL
Meredith giggled. Like he cared. Sorry, no can do. Busy at work securing my future.
She didn’t need to explain that to her go-to friend-with-benefits. He was made from the same mold. They were all about work with a little meaningless pleasure on the side—the harmless, no-strings-attached kind.
See you at 9:00.
Good ole Jameson. Dependable. Noncommitted. Perfect.
Meredith pulled into her parking garage to find Jameson’s vehicle already parked in one of the guest slots. Great. She wasn’t in the mood to wait for him. Needing nothing more than a night of meaningless, hot sex to both celebrate her soon-to-be promotion and to relieve some stress, she couldn’t wait to get to it.
She stepped off the elevator to find Jameson leaning against her door. His piercing blue eyes twinkled when he gave her a playful little wink. They’d been at this long enough for her to know she meant no more to him than he did to her. They cared about each other, but love was not in the cards for them. They were simply there to make each other feel good when needed.
Meredith unlocked her door, then wrapped her fingers around the hot pink tie her lover wore and yanked him into her apartment. His hot, hungry mouth covered hers. Parting her lips, she invited him in. Gentle was never Jameson’s thing, but tonight he seemed overzealous. Great. That’s just what she needed.
Within seconds, they’d made their way to her bedroom, leaving a trail of clothes behind them. She pulled free from his hold, spun, pulled a condom from the drawer of her nightstand, and ripped it open.
He arched a brow. “Someone’s in a hurry tonight.”
She batted her eyes. “You got a problem with that?”
Jameson snatched the packet from her hand. “Not at all, babe. Prepare yourself for the ride of a lifetime.”
Her ringing phone echoed from down the hall, and she made a move for it.
“Don’t,” Jameson growled.
“It could be important.”
“They’ll call back.”
After all this time together, he should know better than to ask her not to answer her phone. It was probably work, and now, during the upcoming weeks in particular, was not the time to miss a work call.
She reached out and ran her hand over his shaft. “I’ll be right back.”
Meredith ran to her phone, hoping to catch it before it went to voicemail. In her haste, she didn’t look at the caller ID.
“Meredith Wellington.”
“Hi. This is Detective Jorgenson from Chandler County. I’m looking for Meredith Barker.”
Meredith’s heart slammed into her chest. Detective. Why was a detective calling her? And Barker. No one had called her Barker in a long time. Not since she’d changed her name when she left Bourbonville, her hometown in Chandler County. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to remember her real last name—the name she inherited from her useless father.
“I’m Meredith Barker.”
“I’m afraid I have some terrible news. Your sister is dead.”
Dead. Meredith’s weak knees gave way. Her pulse pounded in her ears. She knelt on the carpet trying to process what she’d just heard. It couldn’t be true.
“Hello.”
Meredith swallowed the lump in her throat. “My sister?” she squeaked out.
“Yes. I’m sorry to tell you this, but we need you to come pick up the kids.”
Kids. “What?”
“Your nieces. You need to pick them up.”
Why her, and what happened to her sister? She hardly knew those kids. And where was their dad? She knew the answer to that. He was probably at the pub where he spent his days and nights while leaving Anne home to do everything by herself. Her useless brother-in-law was no better than her dad.
“What happened to Anne, and what about their dad? Where’s he?”
“We’re looking for him. Anne was…” The detective paused and cleared her throat. “…beaten. She suffered some head trauma. She didn’t make it.”
Tears rolled down Meredith’s cheeks. That piece of shit brother-in-law of hers had beaten her sister to death.
“Ma’am?”
Meredith tried to respond, but the pain and grief swirling in her head cut off her words. You’re tougher than this, Meredith. Suck it up. This—her nieces—family was the one thing that could get her back to Bourbonville. “I’m on my way.”
